Oh Where Oh Where Is the Affordable Housing in San Diego?

SAN DIEGO'S NEW HOUSING IS LUXURY MULTI-FAMILY APARTMENT BUILDINGS for HIGH EARNERS $130,000+

HOUSING SURVEY April 2025: 78% of units are so expensive, only 22% of people can afford to rent

Conversely, 22% of units are reasonably priced, but 78% of people are in this price range

San Diego doesn't have what most people need

19 high rise buildings, 4,891 total units,

202 "affordable" units,

of the 202, only 10 were available in April, rents began at $1,722+

Many of the new buildings allow apartments to get rented as Airbnbs, with the apartment owner and the building management making a commission, and several include Airbnb hotels, no front desk, with multiple floors of units, guests use codes to access units and amenities like gyms.

The city permitted 90,000 new housing units from April 2021 to April 2025; 75,000 units are for high income, an individual earning over $130,000.

Luxury apartments are the most profitable for builders.

They're not what the population needs.

SURVEY RESULTS:

Of the 19 buildings I contacted, only 5 had Wait Lists for their Affordable Units

1-3: This 3-building complex had the most number of affordable units available, still way beyond what a minimal SSI of $1,200/mo. could afford.

The PINNACLE: a massive 484 units.

10 of 51 "affordable" units available $1,722/mo, 1 bdrm. Building opened August 2015 (Pinnacle on the Park, East Village) same as above, 2nd project, 472 units, opened July 2019 (Pinnacle II, Marina)

4) 20 people on wait list, 5+ years, 10 "affordable", 190 units, opened May 2024 (The Nash)

5) 60 people on wait list 10 "affordable" $1,161 studio, 111 units, opened February 2022 (MoDe, Hillcrest)

6) 140 people on wait list 30 "affordable", 300 units, opened July 2019 (Palisades, UTC)

7) 100 people on wait list 10 "affordable" 100 units, built 2015, changed September 2024 (The Ava Balboa Park) https://www.avaloncommunities.com/california/san-diego-apartments/ava-balboa-park-affordable-program/

8) 200 people on wait list, 7+ years, 18 "affordable", 204 units, opened August 2022 (525 Olive, Bankers Hill)

9-12: 4 Buildings with No Available Affordable Units and No Wait List

9) 0 of 6 "affordable" available, 140 units, opened June 2019 (Strauss on 5th)

10) 0 of 14 "affordable" available, 163 units, opened August 2010, changed 2025 (Strata, East Village, near Petco Park)

11) 0 of 23 "affordable" available, 718 units, opened April 2019 (Park 12, Ballpark Village, near Petco Park)

12) 0 of 30 "affordable" available, 395 units, opened June 2023, (Simone Little Italy)

13-19: 7 Buildings No Affordable Units

13) 0 "affordable" available, 53 units, opened July 2023 (Sasan, Hillcrest) TINY STUDIO KITCHENETTE $1,700 rent 350 sq. ft.

14) 0 "affordable", 199 units, opened April 2014 (Instrata, Little Italy)

15) 0 "affordable", developer paid in lieu fees, 151 units, opened March 2024 (Denizen, Hillcrest)

16) 0 "affordable", developer paid in lieu fees, 265 units, November 2026, (Park Summit, Bankers Hill)

17) 0 "affordable", developer paid in lieu fees, 422 units, opened November 2024 (The Lindley, Little Italy)--7 floors/60 units Airbnb hotel- https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/01/29/apartment-style-hotel-comes-to-little-italy/

18) 0 "affordable", accepts Section 8, 145 units, increasing to 840, opened July 2023 (Ruby The Society, Mission Valley)

19) 0 "affordable", takes Section 8, 379 units, opened December 2023 (The Winslow, University Heights)

ARTIST Rendering Kalonymus Builders: Turquoise Tower, Pacific Beach, CA